Mike D’Antoni trying to find right mix

Two weeks into the season, and the Lakers are fielding various lineups with the same frequency most teams shuffle them during training camp.

In what could mark the team’s sixth different combination, coach Mike D’Antoni said it’s “definitely a possibility” he will make a starting lineup switch when the Lakers (3-5) host the New Orleans Pelicans (3-4) tonight at Staples Center.

“We have to find our identity,” D’Antoni said. “We don’t play slow or fast. We don’t do anything with a purpose.”

The Lakers have tried varying combinations for varying reasons.

Shawne Williams played at power forward for the first five games because D’Antoni likes his floor spacing. But Williams has only averaged four points on 37.5 percent shooting. Pau Gasol and Chris Kaman started together the last three games, following up a stellar performance on Houston’s Dwight Howard, only for New Orleans’ Anthony Davis to have a career-high 32 points the following night.

D’Antoni has shuffled in Nick Young and Xavier Henry at small forward as they struggle with their shooting. Steve Nash missed two games as part of the Lakers’ season-long strategy to sit him out on the second night of back-to-back games to preserve his health.

Should Nash sit out after seeing a back specialist on Monday, D’Antoni said Jodie Meeks would start at shooting guard while Steve Blake slides over at point guard. Beyond that, D’Antoni wouldn’t divulge what his lineup would entail, though he touted Wesley Johnson and Jordan Hill as possibilities. But D’Antoni’s take on both the small and big lineups offers a clear signal where he’s leaning.

D’Antoni’s take on the big lineup: “We’re a little slow.”

On the small lineup: “We’re quicker and faster and can open the floor … It seems to be a better flow.”

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Gasol fears D’Antoni’s indecision will lead to no decision.

“You have to make up your mind now and go with what you think is best,” said Gasol, who has only averaged 11.9 points on 36 percent shooting, and 10.8 rebounds. “If we continue to go back and forth, we’re never going to establish and develop it.”

Gasol’s preference isn’t surprising.

“I still like the way we started with a bigger lineup,” Gasol said. “If we need to speed up the tempo, we’re falling behind or we believe this matchup will help us better, then we should already know that.”

D’Antoni conceded that point.

He mostly blamed his shuffling rotations for why the Lakers rank nearly last in several defensive categories, including 28th in total defense (106.5 points per game), 22nd in opponent shooting percentage (46.4 percent) and 27th in fast-break points allowed (18.4).

“But we could play better while we’re doing this,” D’Antoni said of his evolving rotations. “We can win a lot of games. I’m not at that point. But we have to get it settled as soon as we can.”

He said it

“We’re 3-5. Mathematically, I think we’re still in the race.” — D’Antoni on the Lakers’ 12th-place standing in the Western Conference